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extirpate

 - 2 dictionary results

ex⋅tir⋅pate

  [ek-ster-peyt, ik-stur-peyt]
Use extirpate in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -pat⋅ed, -pat⋅ing.
1. to remove or destroy totally; do away with; exterminate.
2. to pull up by or as if by the roots; root up: to extirpate an unwanted hair.
Origin:
1530–40; < L ex(s)tirpātus plucked up by the stem (ptp. of ex(s)tirpāre), equiv. to ex- ex- 1 + stirp- (s. of stirps) stem + -ātus -ate 1

Related forms:
ex⋅tir⋅pa⋅tion, noun
ex⋅tir⋅pa⋅tive, adjective
ex⋅tir⋅pa⋅tor, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To extirpate
ex·tir·pate   (ěk'stər-pāt')   
tr.v.   ex·tir·pat·ed, ex·tir·pat·ing, ex·tir·pates

  1. To pull up by the roots.

  2. To destroy totally; exterminate. See Synonyms at abolish.

  3. To remove by surgery.


[Latin exstirpāre, exstirpāt- : ex-, ex- + stirps, root.]
ex'tir·pa'tion n., ex'tir·pa'tive adj., ex'tir·pa'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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